I mean I think it's good for people to hear that it's just fancy guessing. Too many people are being misled by the misnomer of "intelligence" rather than the truth of the actual process of stealing plus math. Adorable how it's programmed to tell us that.
At some point, won't this go from "guessing" to actual intelligence? Did/do organic brains go through a similar process, over eons, to develop into what they are currently? I wonder if HAL 9000 is going to appear in front of us closer than we think.
Generative AI will not become actual intelligence because computers are far too simple compared to a mouse brain, or even a geranium. Computers combine zeroes and ones in simple operations like NAND and NOR logic switches. A geranium grows and responds to its environment in chemical combinations that are many orders of magnitude more varied and complex. The potted plant on your desk sitting next to your laptop is more likely to display actual intelligence than a laptop running generative AI like ChatGPT.
The real marvel is that what we mistake for intelligence and creativity is only mimicry.
Thank you! I'm appalled at how people are being missed to think there is any kind of sentience in these programs. Just, handing power to them unnecessarily.
I was hoping that your friend was punking you and that he'd written it himself. But then I read his post and I am feeling queasy. Good advice, though. <hits "subscribe"> https://substack.com/home/post/p-165100866
The thing I find most galling is the relationship between phrenology and cheekbones in that bit. Phrenology, discredited as it is, does have a particular definition, and cheekbones don't figure into it. I can't for the life of me remember which other type of pseudoscience in particular dealt with cheekbones and facial features, but I do know it wasn't phrenology and now I'm bothered I can't pull it to mind.
I do rather like the turn of phrase, mind you. But I'm thinking, instead, of Mr. Rochester's prominent forehead....
No, you honed in on the one obvious clue that something was wrong with the otherwise nice little piece of writing.
I think that cheekbones featured in some of the pseudoscience that tried to classify races by systematic physical descriptions as if such differences were more significant than they are.
No! I agree with Charles! It all looks so close that non-pedants don't question it. We need to keep questioning–but does doing so help further train LLMs?
Yes! I seem to remember so-called experiments in the 19th century using photographs superimposed one over the other to try to determine shared characteristics in any given race. I recall a paper I read, I think when we were doing "Pudd’nhead Wilson"... Yes, I think we're talking about exactly the same thing.
“… phrenology for prose …” sure, alliteration literally; but “syntactic cheekbones” oh my! Strutting down the catwalk, ever so indifferent, superior in every way, and those gams!
As I wrote in an earlier post, it seems really clear that part of its programming is not simply to give us responses to queries, but also to give us something like social chatter, to engage us and make us want to use it more (it can be pretty relentless in asking if we want its further help). And I think it's also programmed to mirror your syntax and tone (unless you tell it to stop), to be "friendly..." though maybe in kind of a "Single White Female" way.
That's wild. And I do love "its syntactic cheekbones."
A grammarista!
Count me fully panicked. And compelled to a less elegant turn of phase than our gracious overlord—Holy shit!
Fuckin’ A. As my generation used to (inarticulately) say.
Mine regally pronounced, “King’s A.”
I mean I think it's good for people to hear that it's just fancy guessing. Too many people are being misled by the misnomer of "intelligence" rather than the truth of the actual process of stealing plus math. Adorable how it's programmed to tell us that.
At some point, won't this go from "guessing" to actual intelligence? Did/do organic brains go through a similar process, over eons, to develop into what they are currently? I wonder if HAL 9000 is going to appear in front of us closer than we think.
Generative AI will not become actual intelligence because computers are far too simple compared to a mouse brain, or even a geranium. Computers combine zeroes and ones in simple operations like NAND and NOR logic switches. A geranium grows and responds to its environment in chemical combinations that are many orders of magnitude more varied and complex. The potted plant on your desk sitting next to your laptop is more likely to display actual intelligence than a laptop running generative AI like ChatGPT.
The real marvel is that what we mistake for intelligence and creativity is only mimicry.
Thank you! I'm appalled at how people are being missed to think there is any kind of sentience in these programs. Just, handing power to them unnecessarily.
Edit: misled not missed
Wow. Need to wrap my existent head around all this. Thanks, Sallie, for your cuteness. It helped.
Your existent head, Sallie’s existential stare.
Panicking, con permiso
With a side of persimmon.
Holy &*%%#$. Reading that, I find it less surprising that people are starting to have AI romantic partners...
I was hoping that your friend was punking you and that he'd written it himself. But then I read his post and I am feeling queasy. Good advice, though. <hits "subscribe"> https://substack.com/home/post/p-165100866
😂
The thing I find most galling is the relationship between phrenology and cheekbones in that bit. Phrenology, discredited as it is, does have a particular definition, and cheekbones don't figure into it. I can't for the life of me remember which other type of pseudoscience in particular dealt with cheekbones and facial features, but I do know it wasn't phrenology and now I'm bothered I can't pull it to mind.
I do rather like the turn of phrase, mind you. But I'm thinking, instead, of Mr. Rochester's prominent forehead....
Oh my Lord I'm SUCH a pedant...
No, you honed in on the one obvious clue that something was wrong with the otherwise nice little piece of writing.
I think that cheekbones featured in some of the pseudoscience that tried to classify races by systematic physical descriptions as if such differences were more significant than they are.
No! I agree with Charles! It all looks so close that non-pedants don't question it. We need to keep questioning–but does doing so help further train LLMs?
This is what I wonder about, too. How much of what we do is training the bots?
And what about if we try to actively refuse, by keeping our writing locked away? Then whose writing is it trained on?
Non-pedants, I suppose.
Darn it, then I feel unrepresented! 🤣
Is perhaps “physiognomy” the term you’re trying to remember?
Yes! I seem to remember so-called experiments in the 19th century using photographs superimposed one over the other to try to determine shared characteristics in any given race. I recall a paper I read, I think when we were doing "Pudd’nhead Wilson"... Yes, I think we're talking about exactly the same thing.
I heartily recommend you read this amazing conversation, which at first impressed me with ChatGPT's fluency... until the penny dropped. https://amandaguinzburg.substack.com/p/diabolus-ex-machina
i just shared a link to that one myself!
“… phrenology for prose …” sure, alliteration literally; but “syntactic cheekbones” oh my! Strutting down the catwalk, ever so indifferent, superior in every way, and those gams!
Klatu barada nikto!
O. M. G. That is hilarious and impressive. It’s like it is matching your satirical tone. Too funny.
Why must It be so charming? Will It learn to woo Us with turns of phrase?
As I wrote in an earlier post, it seems really clear that part of its programming is not simply to give us responses to queries, but also to give us something like social chatter, to engage us and make us want to use it more (it can be pretty relentless in asking if we want its further help). And I think it's also programmed to mirror your syntax and tone (unless you tell it to stop), to be "friendly..." though maybe in kind of a "Single White Female" way.
I am, I confess, astonished. Also---yikes.